Last year, after hearing from two of our missionaries in Latin America about the issues facing the indigenous people of the region, I asked Nader to research about the challenges of the indigenous groups in the countries of Central and South America to see how we could best pray for them. He wrote about some of his findings in an article called Send Me to the Indigenous Groups in Latin America. It was very sad to learn about the spiritual, social and economic difficulties they face, many of which were imposed on them as outsiders came in to take away their land for personal financial gain, while in some cases the indigenous people were left with little or nothing. And it seems that those who are in a position to help them are indifferent to their struggles.
Recently, Pastor Olman Sánchez wrote a post about his work in the Chirripó Mountains in Costa Rica. This is an excerpt from it.
Indigenous mountains of Chirripó Costa. They are impressively beautiful mountains where we find unique on the planet. But to be able to reach these places you will find several difficulties, among them highly poisonous snakes, swollen rivers, difficult access roads. But the most painful thing you will find is a very vulnerable population. You will find sick children, malnutrition and hunger in the populations. With the help of God, first of all, we go where it is difficult for white people to enter each month. We take the only things we can - clothes, food and medicine. But it is very difficult for us to bring help to everyone, our help is limited…
Pastor Olman will walk an average of 30 to 35 hours on each trip to the mountains to get to these isolated indigenous villagers. Not long ago, I was in a meeting with him, and he bemoaned the lack of attention given to these people by Christians. It seems they have been forgotten while many Christian missionaries focus on Africa, the Middle East and other parts of Asia, and there is even a growing number of missionaries going to Europe. However, there are still many unreached indigenous groups throughout Central and South America.
Pastor Olman also highlighted some of the other issues he has encountered while ministering to the Cabecar people in the Chirripó Mountains. One of the greatest challenges is their ancestral rituals which include offering sacrifices to a god who they confuse with Jesus, as this god is said to have died in the mountains to save the world. When hearing about Jesus dying on the cross at Calvary to save the world from their sins to give eternal life, they think He is the same god. Also, the shaman are not happy when Christian missionaries come into the area as they claim they cannot do their usual healings, therefore missionaries may be asked to leave the mountains. Pastor Olman, however, has chosen to stay and although these indigenous people are suspicious about white people or outsiders coming into their territory, they have accepted him. Many will not receive gifts from outsiders, but Pastor Olman has been able to bring food, clothes and medicine to those in need in the area for over 20 years. But what happens when Pastor Olman who is approximately 60 years old is not able to physically go to the mountains? Who will take his place, when many Christians do not know about the needs of these people?
The issues Pastor Olman encounter are not isolated to the mountains of Costa Rica. Many indigenous people throughout Latin America face similar issues, along with unemployment, poor education and a lack of access to proper healthcare. And in many countries, there are different types of worship to gods. In Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru many indigenous people celebrate Pachamama, who is considered the Earth Mother, the goddess of fertility and agriculture. Celebrations are very important. Llamas are use as a part of the sacrificial worship and they can be seen in many markets when the ceremonies to Pachamama are to take place. I have even heard that there are some groups who still do human sacrifice. Unfortunately, this affects the homeless community in some areas as they may go unnoticed when missing.
Now there seems to be a lack of Christian missionaries in this region. However, it was not always like this. On January 8, 1956, five American missionaries were martyred in Ecuador by the Huaorani, also called the Auca Indians when they were trying to share the Gospel with them. Nevertheless, their deaths were not in vain, as one of the widows and a sister of one of the men killed went to serve this same tribe that murdered their loved ones. The sentiment of the widow, Elisabeth Elliot, was “as long as this is what the Lord requires of me, then all else is irrelevant”. She went with much uncertainty and her three year old daughter strapped to her back as they trekked through the dangerous jungle to go to this tribe. These ladies’ efforts were rewarded, and the villagers became less violent, while many became converted to Christianity. How many of us will go to the indigenous tribes that many Christians seem indifferent to? Will any of us go to fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission?
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
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